Dual spring take-up reel



Novr l0, 1953 LEROY DUAL SPRING TAKE-UP REEL 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June27, 1949 .WN LVL ffff NNN.

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DUAL SPRING TAKE-UP REEL Nov. 10, 1953 Filed June 2'?, 1949 2Sheetss--SheefI 2 a 354. 55' jg 5P 20a i g# 5g l j@ Q6 f6@ 35 Mc 4J.

20 bf 2?b j INVENTOR. ,50u/s EQOY ,4r To/QNEK Patented Nov. 10, 1953UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE DUAL SPRING TAKE-UP REEL Louis Leroy,Altadena, Calif., assignor to Mcflaf-r frey-Ruddock Tagline Corporation,Los Angoles, Calif., a corporation of `California.

Application June 27, 1949, Serial No. 101,517

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to reels forautomatically maintaining a line,cable or the like under substantially constant tension and free of slackas the required length` of the line varies; more particularly, itrelates` to spring means for driving such reels.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved spring drivenreel of thisV type.

Spring driven reels or the like of the type under discussion areextensively used in connection with various types ofl material handling'equipment, cranes,` hoists and the like, which. often form an integralpart of a plant. Thus, costly shut-downs thereof will result if thematerial handling equipment is rendered inoperative. It is thus ofimportance that the reel be of rugged construction and otherwisearranged to reduce possible reel failures and ensuing shut-downs fromthis cause, orl at least to minimize their duration. Since the drivingspring is the most likely cause of failure in the reel, it is anotherobject of this invention to provide a spring driven reel including aspare or stand-by spring for operating thereel in lieuof the usualdriving spring.

It is another object of this invention to provide an automatic take-upreel having a pair of driving springs either ori both of which may beconnected in driving relation with the reel.

It is anotherV object of this invention to provide an automatic take-upreel having a standby driving spring arranged to be connected in drivingrelation with the reel in a simple and expeditious manner.

It is still another object of this invention to provide such a reelwherein the main driving spring may be easily replaced while the standbyspring is connected to drive the reel.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objectswhich may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of oneembodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form inthe drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that thisdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention. is best defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal axial section, partly in elevation, showingan automatic take-up reel incorporating the features of the invention;

Figure 2 isa fragmentary cross section, takensubstantially as indicatedby line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially as indicated by line 3-3 on FigureV 1, and showing inelevation one of the driving springs and itsl methodof anchoring; and

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views similar to Figure 1, but showingdifferent operating positions of the parts.

Referring to Figure 1, the reel device is shown by way of example asincorporating a double winding drum I of the type disclosed irr U; S.Patent Number 2,303,002, granted to William Ruddock on November 24,1942, and entitled Tagline Device, wherein one section, as 2 of thewinding drum I, accommodates a tagline L or the like and the othersection 3 accommodates an electrical conducting cablefC for supplyingpower to a lifting magnet or the like, being connected with the powerlines by the aid of' a slipring structure 4 and leads (not shown). Theline L and the cable C are spooled on the respective drums 2 and 3 sothat, as viewed from the right, Figure 1, unwinding of the lineV andcable will cause counterclockwise rotation of the drums.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the reel device comprises a supportstructure ID providing a pair of elongated tubular housing members IIand I2 supported in spaced parallel relation by ller blocks I3 andadapted to be secured to a derrick boom, crane frame, or other suitablestructure (not shown) by the aid of mounting pads, one of which is shownat III. Axially ex tending members I5 and I6 are rotatably supportedrespectively in the housings II and I2 by the aid of bearing structuresIl and I9,l and I8 and 20, respectively, at the opposite ends of thehousings II and I2.

The rotatable member I5 has an intermediate tubular portion I5-a withreduced end portions IE-b and I5-c which project respectively throughthe bearing structures I'I and I9, the projecting portion I5-b havingthe drum I mounted thereon for rotation therewith. The bearing structureI'I serves asa closure for the adjacent `end of housing l I by means of`an annular flange IfI-a which is of somewhat greater diameter than thehousing II to accommodate bolts 2l which secure the bearing structure inplace. As shown, the bolts 2| also mount arprotective enclosure 4-a forthe slip ring structure Il.

The bearing structure I9 at the opposite end of the housing II includesa bearing element 23 which similarly serves as a closure by the aid ofan annular ange 23-a attached to a flange II-a on the housing II bybolts 24. The bearing element 23 has a bore 23-b of substantiallygreater diameter than the end portion I-c of the rotatable member I5, abushing or sleeve 25 being interposed between said end portion and saidbore. The sleeve 25 is independentlyrotatable with respect to both saidend portion housing II and about the rotatable member I5Y one end 2-abeing restrained against rotation by beingrconnected to the support I,the Vother Y end 2-b being connected to the bushing 25 to impartrotation thereto with respect to the support I5.

Means are provided for connecting the bushing and member I5 in drivingrelation. Thus, the outer end of the bushing 25 is formed with adiametral slot 25-b (see Figure 2) adapted to be engaged optionally bylugs 28-a provided on a member 29 splined on the reduced portion I5-c ofthe member I5 by a key ZS-a, and secured in axially adjusted position bya set screw 35.

The rotatable member I6 comprises an intermediate tubular portion I6-awith an inserted element IG-b at one end providing a reduced bore IB-d,and a reduced portion I6-c at the other end which projects through thebearing structure 25. The bearing structure I8 comprises a cylindricalprojection or pintle I8-a, which engages the bore IS-d, and is securedto a plate IB-b closing the adjacent end of the housing I2. The bearingstructure 29 comprises a hub 2li-a rotatably supporting the reducedportion I6-c of the member I6 and an annular flange 2-b serving as aclosure for the housing I2 and attached to a flange I2-a thereon as bybolts 32. A coiled spring 35, substantially identical with the spring21, is accommodated in the housing I2 and about the rotatable member I6,one end 35-a being restrained against rotation by being connected to thesupport II), the other end 35-b being connected to the member I6 toimpart rotation thereto With respect to the support I0. Thus, theopposite ends respectively of springs 21 and 35 are connected to thesupport Ill.

4 connected. Thus, rotation of the drum I in line unwindingcounterclockwise direction Will be transmitted by member I5, clutch andgear member 26-29 and gear 36 to member I6, which will be rotatedclockwise, due to the gearing 29, 36, and tighten the spring 35. Springopposes rotation of the drum in line unwinding direction and causes thedrum to turn in the opposite direction and wind the line upon areduction of the tension therein. Accordingly, the tension in the line Lis at all times determined by the force of the spring 35. V

This is the normal operating arrangement of the device, and briefconsideration will show, that in the event of failure of spring 35, thespring 21 may be readily connected to operate the drum I. For thispurpose, it is only necessary to remove the gear and clutch member 28-29and replace it in reversed position with clutch member 28 in engagementwith the bushing 25.V This obviously requires removal of the retainingwasher II and appropriate manipula- Y tion of the set screw 35.

as the gear 36 is moved axially along the reduced. Thereafter the gearcover 40 is removed, and the bearing structure 23 removedI portionIIS-c.

from the housing I2, allowing removal and replacement of the spring 35..As shown in Fig. 5, the gear members 29 and 36 of the clutch may bemaintained in connection by sliding member 29V back and away frombushing 25 which latter engages spring 21, thereby disengaging spring21.

and driving the assembly only through the spring 25. Thus, operation ofthe reel without a second or stand-by spring being readily available isnecessary for only a short time.

With the gears 36 and 29 disengaged and clutch member 28 engaging thebushing 25, as shown in Figure 4, spring 35 is disconnected and spring2l connected in driving relationwith the. Thus, rotation of the drum Iin line Winding direction (counterclockwise) will.y

drum structure I.

be transmitted by member I5 to the bushing 25,

, tightening the spring 27 and tensioning the line A gear wheel 36 isdetachably secured on the Y reduced portion I6-c of the member I6 as bya washer 31 and screw 38 threaded into the portion IIS-c, beingconstrained to rotate therewith by key 39. Gear 36 is adapted to engagea similar gear 29 formed on the clutch member 28, the arrangement beingsuch that by appropriately positioning the gears 36 and 29 on theirrespective rotatable members I5 and I6, either or both springs 21 and 35may be connected optionally in driving relation with the drums 2-3. Aprotective cover LI may be provided for the gears, if desired, beingsupported by the aid of bolts 24 and 32.

With the gears 36 and 29 engaged and clutch member 28 and bushing 25disengaged, as shown in Figure 1, spring 35 is connected in drivingrelation with the drum I, spring 2'I being disas before.

are active, their forces being in assisting relation. Thus, as shown inFigure 5, the clutch and gear member 28-29 is positioned to engage thebushing 25, thus connecting the spring 2l in driving relation withmember I5 and the-drum structure I and gear 36 is positioned to engagegearV 29, thus connecting the member I6 and spring 35 also in drivingrelation with the member I5 andV Rotation of the drum I inthe drumstructure. line unwinding direction will thus wind both springs 21 and35 simultaneously and be opposed by their combined tensions.

As pointed out in the previously identified patent, it is desirable toprotect the springs 21 and 35 against excessive unwinding movement, suchas would result from spinning of the drum I caused by its inertia uponbreakage or disconnection of the line L. Thus, as shown in Figure 3, theends of the spring 21 are formed as oppositely facing hooks 43 and 44adapted to engage respecadjacent ends of the housing l.

Thus,` rotation of the member I in the direction indicated bythe arrowFigure 3 will cause the hooks43 and 44 to engage the end faces 45-a and46-a, and wind and tension the spring 21. Rotation ofthe member l5 inthe opposite direction will relieve the tension `in the spring andthereafter cause disengagement of the hooks 43 and 44 which will ridepast the lugs on the sloping end portions 45-b and 46-b respectively.

Spring 35 is detachably connected to the support I0 and the rotatablemember I6 in a similar manner. Thus, hooks 41 and 48 formed on the endsof the spring 35 engage respectively the lugs or projections 49 and 5Uon the bearing hub 2li-a and on the insert IG-b, upon rotation ofthemember I6 in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right Figure 1,and disengage upon rotation in the opposite direction, after the tensionin the spring has been released.

I claim:

1. In a spring driven reel device: a support; a winding drum; a membercarrying said drum; means rotatably mounting said member on said supportincluding an element interposed between said member and said support androtatable independently of said member; a coiled spring connected at oneend to said support and at the other end to said element; and means foroptionally connecting said member and said element in driving relation.

2. In a spring driven reel device: a support including an elongatedhousing; a member extending axially in said housing; bearing meansrotatably supporting said member adjacent the ends of said housingrespectively and through which said member extends; a Winding drum iixedon said member exteriorly of said housing and adjacent one end thereof;the bearing means adjacent the other end of said housing including anelement secured to the housing, and a bushing freely rotatable in saidelement and in which said member rotates; a coiled spring in saidhousing, one end of said spring being restrained against rotation, theother end being connected to said bushing; and means for optionallyconnecting said bushing and said member in driving relation.

3. In a spring driven reel device provided with a pair of coiled springsto drive a reel; a support; a Winding drum; a member carrying said drum;means rotatably mounting said member on said support including anelement interposed between said member and said support and rotatableindependently of said member; means restraining one end of each of saidsprings against rotation, means connecting the other end of each of saidsprings respectively in driving relationship with said drum and saidelement, and means for optionally connecting said member and saidelement in driving relationship.

4. In a spring driven reel device provided with a pair of coiled springsto drive a reel; a support; a Winding drum rotatably mounted on saidsupport; a pair of independently rotatable elements mounted on saidsupport; each spring of said pair of coiled springs being connected atone end to said support; the other ends of said springs being connectedrespectively to said elements; and

6, means for optionally disconnecting one of said elements and said drumfrom driving relation.

l 5. `In a spring driven reel device provided with a pair of coiledsprings to drive a reel; a support including an elongated housing foreach spring; a member extending axially in each of said housings;bearing means rotatably supporting said members adjacent the ends ofsaid housings and through which said members extend; a winding drumexteriorly of one of said housings and adjacent one end thereof; thebearing means secured to the other end of each of said housingsincluding anoelement secured to said housing and in one of saidhousings, a bushing freely rotatable in said element in which bushingsaid member rotates; one end of each of said coiled springs beingrestrained against rotation; the other end of each of said coiledsprings being connected to the respective bushing; and means foroptionally disconnecting a member from driving relation with the otherend of one of said coiled springs.

6. In a spring driven reel device provided with a pair of coiled springsto drive a reel; a support; a pair of members mounted for independentrotation thereon; a Winding drum mounted on one of said members; clutchmeans for optionally connecting said members in driving relation; meansconnecting one end of each of said springs to said support; meansconnecting the other end of each of said springs to said membersrespectively to cause rotation thereof relative to said support by theinfluence of said springs; at least one of said connecting means foreach spring including means for releasing the associated spring uponrotation of the associated member ahead of the spring and operating toreconnect said spring upon rotation of said associated member in theopposite direction.

7. In a spring driven reel device provided with a pair of coiled springsto drive a reel; a support including a pair of elongated housings; amember extending axially in each of said housings; bearing meansrotatably supporting said members adjacent to the ends of each of saidhousings, said members extending through the bearing means at acorresponding end of each housing, one of said members also extendingthrough the bearing means at the opposite end of the housing; a Windingdrum mounted on said one member exteriorly of said opposite end of thehousing; the bearing means adjacent the other end of said housingincluding an element secured to the housing and a bushing freelyrotatable on said housing in which said one member rotates; one end ofeach of said `coiled springs being restrained against rotation, theother ends of said springs being connected respectively to said bushing.and to the member in the other housing; clutch means for optionallyconnecting said members in driving relationship and for optionallyconnecting said bushing and the member mounting the drum in drivingrelation, whereby one or both of the springs may be connected in drivingrelation with the drum.

8. In a spring driven reel device provided with a pair of coiled springsto drive a reel; a support including a pair of elongated housings; amember extending axially in each of said housings; bearing meansrotatably supporting said members adjacent the ends of said housings;said members extending through the bearing means at a corresponding endof said housing, one of said members also extending through the bearingmeans at the opposite end of one housing; a winding drum mounted on saidone member exteriorly of said opposite end of said one housing; one endof each of said coiled springs being restrained against rotation; theother end of one of the coiled springs being connected to the othermember; means including gearing means on said members for optionallyconnecting said one member in driving relation with the other member orwith the spring in said one housing, the gearing means on the other ofsaid members being demountable; and means detachably securing thebearing means for the said other member which is adjacent the gearing tothe other housing to permit removal and replacement of 8 the coiledspring connected to said other mem# ber, independently of said onemember.

LOUIS LEROY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

